Best/cheapest way to purchase foreign currency

[sumthinfornuthin]

Hi People
My wife and I are going to both Thailand and New Zealand in May. What's the best way to purchase cash ???? Any chance on getting FF points on the purchase ???
Thanks in anticipation

 

[JohnK]

If you are going to Thailand then take cash with you and use the exchange booths. If you are going to use exchange booths in BKK airport then get as little as possible as the rates a lower.

As for New Zealand I use National Bank over there (or even Westpac) as they seem to have good exchange rates and no commission. Well they did when I was there last. Again the airport exchange booths have lowe rates and charge commission.

Personally I would not worry about FF points as you will definitely get a much better deal overseas. But as they say 'your holiday, your money'....

 

[casanovawa]

yeah i would say in Asia definitely take cash and change on the street, specially in Bali, so much better than rip of Travellex here... i took some cash with me to Greece last year and got a pretty good exchange rate in a bank there as well... so i am now leaning otwards getting the minimum necessary exhanged here first and take as much cash as is reasonable and safe to at least start my trips off then work out after that what methods attract the fewest fees and best conversion rates...

 

[Must...Fly!]

For New Zealand, ASB Bank seemed to be the best when I did a bit of hunting around Wellington last month. Good rates and commission free (or so the board said, I didn't end up making a transaction).

 

[Sprucegoose]

Do not go to travelex !!!!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Hi People
My wife and I are going to both Thailand and New Zealand in May. What's the best way to purchase cash ???? Any chance on getting FF points on the purchase ???
Thanks in anticipation

Just go for the rate,don't worry about points. TRAVELEX promised me points and they were never credited, lousy rate and even a guaranteed buy back rate that would make me embarrassed to repeat it here......local backs and look at the all the fees, that is the true conv rate.

I got good rates on my Visa as well. NAB GOLD.

 

[Major]

I use the Post Office, the rates are reasonable and there is no commission.
Certainly do NOT use Travelex

 

[joeymelb]

Hi People
My wife and I are going to both Thailand and New Zealand in May.

In Thailand, the best and cheapest is definitely bring cash and exchange in the local money exchanger. Shop around and you can find some offer good rates. Exchange during the day not night. The exchange places tend to hike down the rates at night when there's less competition and tourists are more desperate for money. It is relatively safe to use your credit card in the likes of Siam Paragon, Central or big named department stores.

As for FF points for buying currencies, my advice is to forget about it. It is not worth the FF points for extremely poor exchange rate and commission gouged by certain companies in Australia.

 

[serfty]

For NZ, get yourself a 28° (nee Wizard) mastercard and use an ATM at the airport.

(Or NAB Gold Banking)

My last use 12 days ago in AKL had a +0.1% (0.001) margin. This varies, sometimes it's -ve.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer..../wizard-28-mastercard-cash-advances-6960.html

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

Hi Guys

Thanks heaps for the advice. Will see how it all goes. Regards to all that gave advice